Payton fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and announced he wanted to switch to a 3-4 defense two days after returning from a yearlong suspension. The Saints allowed more total yards in a single season than any team in NFL history.

Ryan was let go by the Cowboys after two season working for coach Jason Garrett in Dallas. The Cowboys ranked 19th in the NFL total defense last season.

Ryan, the brother of Jets coach Rex Ryan, has been a defensive coordinator for the past nine years.